Tour Features

Jewish heritage tour in the city of Cochin can take you on visit to the synagogues, cemeteries,backwater tour and other important tourist places of the city of Cochin.

We arrange for the one day tour in the city of Cochin , where we will be having our own car it includes visit to the historical synagogues of Cochin cemeteries, Jewish important buildings,backwater tour of cochin and monuments of there and also the other well-known tourist places of Cochin and also visit to the chabad of Cochin we also give free guide and informations for our guest for tour in other places of the country and Jewish informations in other places of here and can arrange this tour as per wish and requirement of my guest

Jewish heritage tour in the city of Cochin can take you on a visit to the synagogues, cemeteries, backwater tour and other important tourist places of the city of Cochin.

The one day tour in the city of Cochin, will include visit to the historical synagogues of Cochin cemeteries, important Jewish buildings, backwaters tour, chabad and also the other well-known tourist places of Cochin

On this Cochin day trip, we will cover the following destinations to make for a memorable day tour:

Visit Chendhamangalam Synagogue

Paravour Synagogue

Paradesi synagogue

Kadvum bagam synagogue visit

Jewish Cemetery

Jew Town Visit

Lunch

Time: Departure at 9:00am back by 4:00pm

History of Cochin Jews:

JEWS AND Muziris Heritage Day Tours

While King Solomon was building the great Temple at Jerusalem in BC 961, the Jews were having trade links with Kerala in the South-West coast of India, embracing the Arabian Sea.

The first Jewish settlement in Indian was at Kodungalloor Located 35 Km North of Cochin, Kerala State in India. These were the ancient names of Kodungalloor – Shingly by Jews, Mussaris by Greek and Cranganore by Portuguese. Kodungallur was the Only Sea Port (1000BC) in India known to the outside world.

Nearly 3000 years back Kodungalloor has been keeping trade relations with Palestine. Many a Jewish traders who came to Kodungalloor for trade purposes settled here, as they could not return to their country, due to turbulent weather and rought Sea. When the second temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, many Jewish families who had heard of the tolerance, generosity and hospitality of the people of Kodungalloor, from their brethren who had settled here, ventured to this place. l Then the Hindu rulers as well as the people of Kodungalloor gave them a warm welcome and they settled here enjoying the love, compassion and security the Kodungallurities (People of Kodoungalloor) gave them.

History says that the First Jews arrived in Kerala in King Solomon’s Merchant Fleet. St. Thomas arrived in Kodungalloor in 52 AD, St. Thomas was welcomed by a Jewish Flute Girl. He stayed in the Jewish quarter of the town. It is interesting to learn that even today some of the hymns chanted in the Synagogues, especially on Jewish Holy days, are called Shingly Melodies. The attachment of the Jews, to Kodungalloor was so strong that till recently a handful of Shingly Sand found a place in the Coffin of every Jew along with that from the Holy Land.

The valuable spices of Kerala, such as pepper, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, turmeric etc. had attracted the Jews to Kerala by crossing the turbulent seas centuries ago.

The Population in Kerala is fast declining since the formation of their own Nation ‘Israel’ in 1948. The architecture of Kerala Synagogues are beautiful combination of Kerala and Sumerian architecture.

Here lies silently the centuries old history of the Jews in Kerala, the history of their sufferings and sorrows, as well as the Joy of their adventures and achievements. Jews have made substantial contribution in the field of trade and commence in Kerala. Forward trading and money lending business originated with them. The Banking also began with them.

Their emigration to Israel enmasse was not motivated by any intolerance or ill-treatment metted out by the Government or by external political or social pressure but their staunch religious fervor to live and die in the HOLYLAND.

Among the remaining Jews in Kerala, those who are aged above seventy. Severely feel loneliness as all their Kith and Kin are now settled in Israel permanently. Still these old people do not intend to leave Kerala as they are deeply rooted in this soil, so deep, that it can not be rooted out.